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VW Singapore plots Skoda comeback Volkswagen-owned Czech brand Skoda is making a comeback, yet again. But this time, it is parent group Volkswagen which will do its own importing and retailing here. Volkswagen Group Singapore - the manufacturer-owned importer and retailer of Volkswagen vehicles here - has registered a new company for this purpose. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, Skoda Centre Singapore was registered last month and will be operating out of 247 Alexandra Road, which is the same address as the VW showroom. The Straits Times understands renovations are being carried out at the facility and that Skoda Centre Singapore will start operations in the first quarter of next year. Volkswagen Group Singapore was not available for comment, but it is understood that a meaningful price differential will be in place to re-launch the Czech brand here. Previously, Skoda cars - which are based on Volkswagens - were the same price or even costlier than equivalent VW models. In other markets, Skodas are cheaper. The brand was last represented by Harvest Automobiles, part of businessman Peter Kwee's now dormant motor group of companies. Harvest Automobiles went bust in 2013 - the third Skoda agency to have failed in Singapore. The Straits Times understands Vertex Automobiles, the dealer for Chinese automobile brand Chery that is owned by egg trader Lian Fong, had made a pitch for the Skoda franchise. But it has since landed Seat, a Spanish brand also owned by Volkswagen Group. Skoda had also been courting Trans Eurokars, a multi-franchise group owned by businessman Karsono Kwee. Among its brands are Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Mini and Mazda. The best year for the Skoda brand here was 2010, when it sold 105 cars. That is less than 4 per cent of Volkswagen sales last year. Will the brand have better success under Volkswagen? Nanyang Business School's Adjunct Associate Professor Zafar Momin, previously an automotive expert with the Boston Consulting Group, said: "Skoda may be able to make a comeback in Singapore if priced and promoted properly. It needs to be very competitive with its Korean competitors in terms of pricing, as it could provide solid, competitive products targeted at value segments of the markets. "With VW Singapore now doing it themselves, it has a better chance than before. Having said that, I wonder what "comeback" really means in a small crowded Singapore car market which has small volumes for many non-mainstream brands. Would it really be worth the effort and to what extent would it cannibalise VW products?" When contacted back in 2014 - when Harvest Automobiles relinquished the business - Volkswagen Group Singapore said it had no plans to take over the Skoda retail business here. It has, however, taken over the maintenance and warranty of Skodas here. There are about 400 Skoda cars in Singapore today. As a onwer of both Skoda and VW model, I can attest that Skoda is indeed better, in almost every aspect, than VW. I can wait to welcome it back to Singapore!! Here are some interesting models in current Skoda lineup, that I hope can be made available to local motorist when sales start next year. Superb Superb Combi Kodiaq

@AriesGoat hey bro. Any latest news for the VRS estate launch? Saw the 2 mk4 red sedan and estate on a trailer last week.

The Skoda Karoq will launch this May with an all-new exterior design, advanced driver assistance technology and four new turbocharged engines. Ditching the unique exterior shape of its predecessor, the Yeti, for a more conventional SUV body, the Karoq shares many features with the larger Kodiaq, which it sits below in Skoda’s line-up. The Karoq has space for five passengers and has a boot capacity of 521 litres or 1630 litres with the back seats folded down. This comfortably beats the car’s main rival, the Nissan Qashqai, which offers 430 and 1585 litres respectively. Built on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, shared with models such as the Audi Q2 and Seat Ateca, the Karoq comes with a choice of five turbocharged engines, four of which are new to Skoda. The new petrol engines are an entry-level 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder with 113bhp and 129lb ft and a 1.5-litre TSI with 148bhp and 184lb ft, with the latter enabling an 8.4sec 0-62mph time and featuring active cylinder technology. There’s a new diesel 1.6-litre TDI that produces 113bhp and 184lb ft while emitting just 118g/km of CO2, and a new 2.0-litre TDI that outputs 187bhp and 295lb ft, enabling a 7.8sec 0-62mph time – the quickest available. These new Skoda units are joined by a 2.0-litre TDI that’s familiar to the brand, which produces 148bhp and is the most fuel-efficient engine, offering 64.2mpg combined and outputting 115g/km CO2. The Karoq comes in two and four-wheel drive guises and with a choice of a six-speed manual of seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. In higher-spec it comes with Skoda’s Drive Mode Select system, which enables the car’s drivetrain to be switched through Normal, Sport, Eco, Individual and Snow. Driver assist systems include a radar-based adaptive cruise control, blind spot detect and front assist, which includes automatic city braking with a pedestrian braking system. There’s also hill hold control to prevent roll back and emergency assistance, which can intervene if the driver becomes incapable of driving and adaptive cruise control and lane assist are on. In-car, technology includes gesture control for certain functions, wireless phone charging, as well as a mobile online connection that works with the infotainment. In top spec, the infotainment has a screen of up to 9.2in and three other displays, including a new digital instrument cluster that makes its debut in a Skoda. Skoda is yet to confirm pricing, but the Karoq’s expected to follow the brand’s aggressive pricing strategy and undercut the Nissan Qashqai, and therefore stick closely to the current model's £17,770 starting price. The Kodiaq, which starts at £21,565, is around £1300 cheaper than its main rival, the Nissan X-Trail.

Hi all A newbie here..looking to get a Karoq but really worried about the Skoda brand and the resale value etc...the new RAV4 is also a great bet and pretty much similarly priced...I have decided that the CX5 wouldn't be worth it due to smaller boot space and other items...3 year warranty only etc.. Any thoughts? Can some Karoq owner PM me or assist. Also what do you think how long will the karoq take to deliver...and the best price u have received for Style version. TIA!

More than 75 MyCarForum (MCF) members, together with their partners and family, gathered at the Skoda showroom at 26 Leng Kee Road on Saturday for yet another entertaining MCF MarkDown with Skoda. It was during this time when everyone present got the opportunity to get up close and personal with the comprehensive range of Skoda cars, such as the Octavia and the Karoq. Given that young families and several enthusiastic fans of MCF MarkDown made up the crowd that morning, it was natural to see them so eager to learn more about the cars from the Czech Republic carmaker. sgCarMart Editor, Julian Kho, also took this opportunity to share with the guests his experience with the Skoda Octavia and the Skoda Karoq. More importantly, he gave his honest opinions about how he feels about the Octavia. “With its well-engineered and well-thought out development, the Skoda Octavia may have discovered its own spectrum of remarkability. It’s the sort of car that’s made by the common people, for the common people,” Julian said. More excitingly for the guests, they were given the opportunity to test drive a number of Skoda models, such as the Octavia 1.4, Octavia RS245, Karoq, Kodiaq and even the Rapid Spaceback - all done to allow them to have a personal touch and to let the guests have a feel of the cars themselves. Skoda has proven to be a suitable brand for families. Needless to say, like all MCF Hangouts, guests were treated to a mouth-watering buffet spread, as well a variety of activities to spice up the day, including quizes. Guests also took back a goody bag to remember the event by.